Cost of Government Day 2010: How much of your taxes go to run the country?

Thurs., Aug. 19 marks this year's "Cost of Government Day." The date, calculated by the Americans for Tax Reform, signals when the average American finishes paying off his or her respective share of federal, state and local taxes, and the cost of implementing government regulations. This year, that means a whopping 231 days -- or almost 2/3 of the year -- are spent paying to keep the country going.

Feel like you've gotten our money's worth yet?

For 2010, the date arrives a full week later than in 2009, when Cost of Government Day fell on Aug. 12. That gives it the dubious honor of a new record, since the 2009 date was almost a full month later than in previous years. According to the Americans for Tax Reform, the date had never fallen later than July 20th over the period from 1977 to 2008.

About half of the total burden is attributable to the federal government. Keeping the government going these days takes a lot of money. But where does it all go?